Biography of Franco Battiato

Mystic pop

March 23, 1945 From experimental debut at first recordings of pop music, from the art electronics to the Opera and sacred, all this can be summed up in the career of the man who is perhaps the most unique and eclectic Italian singer ever. When the young Battiato began to make inroads in the world of pop music in the late 1960s, probably nobody would have imagined that the boy would be able to move from that genre so easy and immediate unbridled experimentation and then change direction again, get to great success with most discs easy to listen and dedicate to classical music and Opera. Born in 1945 in Jonia, a village in the province of Catania, since the early seventies Franco Battiato actively participates in European research and testing currents. His early recordings out, between 1971 and ' 75, experimental label blah blah and bring original titles and evocative as the now legendary "Fetus", "Pollution", "Sulle corde di Aries", "click" and "Mademoiselle the Gladiator". Then move on to Remember which has released more albums little commercial impact as "Babu", "Juke Box" and "The Egypt before the Sands", containing a piano song which is worth alienating even Stockhausen Award (the award takes its name from the tutelary deity of the classical avant-garde). Suffice it to say, however, the sales of Sicilian musician disks are at historic lows, why Remember fire him. He takes charge of the Emi, and the investment could not be faulted. Battiato's early days when, in fact, abandons and abandons itself to brand pop song-oriented, albeit revisited in intellectual and never succumb to the prevailing taste. In 1979 public so the album of "conversion", one intended to disorientate the selected fan be enthralled with much sacrifice, "l'era del Cinghiale Bianco". Which fans, unwilling to the world of pop music, they'd heard yet little compared with later works, even more blatantly commercial. In 1980 it was the turn of "Patriots", still moderately successful but the year after he gets "his master's voice", the real miracle Mall signed Battiato. Some songs of the disc make it a national case (like forgetting phrases like "cuccurucucù paloma" or "Centre of gravity", now become almost slogans?) while the album is stationed at the top of the charts for a year, selling over a million copies. Subsequent albums include: "Noah's Ark" (1982), "lost Horizons" (1983), "distant Worlds" (1985), "Echoes of sufi dances" (1985), which repeat in part the success of "voice" without reaching those peaks clamorous. In 1985 the singer, eager for greater operational autonomy, starts in collaboration with Longanesi editions "the eighth", and, in 1989, the eponymous record label devoted to music "frontier". On the creative plan, instead, Battiato changes once again register and an obstinate desire to compose an opera for the theatre. Thus was born "Genesis", which debuted at the Teatro Regio in Parma on April 26, 1987, greeted with triumphant consent by the public but with a tinge of skepticism from insiders. For Emi come out yet "Nomades", "Physiognomy" and the double live album "Redcoats". In 1991 affects another great album called singular, "like a camel in a gutter", containing, in addition to nineteenth-century lieder and original songs, that veritable manifesto on the Italy of today is "Povera Patria". Also, working on his second opera, "Gilgamesh", which successfully debuted at the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome on June 5, 1992. Following the tour of "like a camel": Battiato is accompanied by musicians orchestra I Virtuosi Italiani, the pianist Antonio Ballista and violinist Giusto Pio. On 4 December 1992 with i Virtuosi Italiani is in Baghdad, Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra concert. The aim is to bridging worlds as diverse as the Middle East and the West. In October ' 93 Battiato publishes for Emi, the compilation album "Café de la Paix", which ranks best record of the year in the referendum among the trade press promoted by the magazine music and discs; during the same period Debuts "archaic", composition for soloists, chorus and orchestra. In September ' 94, on Commission of the Sicilian region, for the eighth centenary of the birth of Frederick II of Swabia, is represented in the Cathedral of Palermo's work "the Knight of the intellect", with texts of the philosopher Manlio Sgalambro, its a regular contributor and responsible for other libretto set to music by Sicilian author "umbrella and sewing machine" (as well as numerous songs). In the fall of 96, with the record company Polygram, comes "the ambush" containing, among other things, the song "the cure" with which the songwriter takes the prize for best song of the year. In 97 also follows the return of Battiato in indoor stadium with a long and acclaimed tour. In September of 1998 comes "Shellac", containing the highly successful single "Shock in my town," the album that continues the musical discourse that began with "the ambush", enriching it further hard and sharp sound. On October 22, 1999 is published "Fleurs", a collection of "Cover" is highly appreciated by critics. The last Battiato are "magnetic fields", released in 2000 and containing the music for the Ballet commissioned by the Maggio Fiorentino and the album "Fleurs 3", a continuation of the successful record of reinterpretations. In 2003, however, the singer has also experimented with directing, shooting the film "Perdutoamor". In December 2004 he made his debut as host of a cultural programme in six tracks, of which he was also the curator: Bitte, keine réclame ("Please, no advertising"), which aired on the satellite channel Rai Doc. Participated in the Festival di Sanremo 2011 accompanying Eva M with his hit song "spaceman". In the fall of 2012, he released his new album "open sesame"; at the beginning of November of the same year, he became head of tourism and entertainment to the region of Sicily.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.